Ben Franklin The Adulterer

Ben Franklin is one of America’s most revered figures, a polymath, a founding father, and an “upstanding genius”. And yet, verified claims about his womanizing are hard to ignore. Many are familiar with Franklin’s work in censored versions of Poor Richard’s Almanack, his work as a diplomat, politician, scientist, postmaster, etc., and are familiar with Franklin-isms like “Early to Bed, Early to Rise, Makes a Man Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.” But fewer of us have probably seen some of his other work: “Neither a Fortress nor a maidenhead will hold out long after they begin to parley”. Franklin’s list of mistresses from this Chicago Tribune source is as long as this paragraph.